At the annual Hong Kong Board of Directors meeting last month during the September Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, the International Colored Gemstone Association [ICA] Board of Directors announced that they have unanimously chosen as their new incoming president, Mr. Clement Sabbagh, Ben Sabbagh Bros., Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Outgoing president Benjamin Hackman, Intercolor, New York, USA, will transition the presidency at the biennial ICA Congress in Jaipur, India, this October 21-24, with newly elected Directors being installed at that time as well.

Sabbagh is not new to the ICA as he has been with the Association since 1997, serving as Brazil's Ambassador, as a voting Director, working on numerous committees, and for the past two years, as Advisor to the Board and Chair of the Congress Committee.

Clement and his brother Samuel, both GIA Graduate Gemologists, own Ben Sabbagh Brothers, second generation in mining, cutting, and supplying numerous varieties of fine quality colored gems.